37:1  (Allah swears by the angels), those who stand in rows, awaiting orders, keeping ranks

37:2  They restrain (and rebuke the unbelievers) constantly

37:3  And carry and convey the word _ (the inspiration and revelation from Allah)

37:4  (Allah proclaims that) certainly, your God is the Absolute One

37:5  The Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, the Lord of each and every point of sunrise (the Lord of the Easts)

37:6  Indeed, We brightened the heaven (the sky) of this world with beautiful stars

37:7  Then screened and shielded it against every defiant Shaitan

37:8  These Shaitans are chased out of everywhere as they attempt to eavesdrop on the conversation of the exalted angels (to learn about the events to come)

37:9  These Shaitans are outcasts. Theirs is the perpetual punishment

37:10  If one (of the Shaitans) succeeds in snatching away a fragment (of knowledge), a piercing flame follows him (in hot pursuit)

37:11  Just ask their (the disbelievers´) opinion. What is harder to create? They, or the other things We have created? We created them from sticky clay

37:12  In fact, (Oh prophet)! you are struck with awe, while they just mock

37:13  And when advised, they do not heed

37:14  When shown the sign, they scoff and laugh it off

37:15  And respond, "This is evidently just magic!"

37:16  "Is it possible? Once we die and wither away into dust and bones, would we really be brought back to life?"

37:17  "And our forefathers, too?"

37:18  Say, "Yes! Of course you (all) would! You would be humbled."

37:19  In fact, it will take just a single hoot (and rebuke), and at once they shall (wake up and) stare

37:20  They will say, "Oh misery to us, this is the Day of Judgment!"

37:21  (They will hear the reply), "This is the day of the verdict you used to reject!"

37:22  (Allah will order the angels): Gather together all the evildoers, their wives and also those (deities) they used to worship

37:23  Instead of Allah! Then, shove them along the path towards the blazing fire

37:24  But detain them for a while! First, they must answer

37:25  What is wrong with you? Why are you not helping each other out, (today)

37:26  In fact, that day they shall (concede and) give in so sheepishly

37:27  Right then, they will confront and accuse each other

37:28  Some will say to others, "You (swore and) came to us (feigning sincerity); you had (an imposing) status over us."

37:29  Others will reply, "Not so at all! You were disbelievers yourselves."

37:30  "We had no control over you. You were certainly a defiant people!"

37:31  "So (now), in our case the prediction of our Lord has come to pass. We (both of us) shall have to taste (the torment)."

37:32  "We led you astray, but we too, were (lost and) on the wrong path."

37:33  On that day, they shall all share that torment together

37:34  This is really the way We shall deal with the criminals

37:35  They used to scorn and scoff arrogantly when told that there is no god except Allah

37:36  They said, "Should we give up our gods for the sake of an obsessed poet?"

37:37  On the contrary, he brought them the absolute truth; it confirmed the (teachings of the previous) messengers

37:38  (You did not accept), so you definitely have to taste the painful punishment

37:39  You will be punished strictly in accordance with what you had done

37:40  But the sincere and obedient servants of Allah (will be safe)

37:41  The known rewards (and riches) will be theirs

37:42  Fruits (of all kinds)! They will be the honored (residents)

37:43  In the blessings filled paradise

37:44  Seated on elevated thrones, facing each other

37:45  Cups filled with drinks from the fountains (of paradise) will be passed around among them

37:46  White (wine)! A delicious and delectable drink

37:47  It will neither inebriate; nor cause a hangover

37:48  (They will be) accompanied by chaste and demure females, with eyes only for their mates

37:49  So dainty and delicate; like a thin film lining the eggshell

37:50  (Surrounded by such luxuries) they will face each other and converse

37:51  One of them would say to others, "I had a friend."

37:52  "He used to say (to me): are you also one of those who believe?"

37:53  "That we would be asked to face the reckoning even after we turn into dust and bones?"

37:54  He would be asked, "Would you look at him now?"

37:55  He would look and spot his ex-friend in the thick of the blazing fire

37:56  He would call out (to his ex friend in the hellfire), "I swear by Allah, you had all but ruined me."

37:57  "Had it not been for my Lord´s blessings, I would be there (burning in the hellfire) with you, right now!"

37:58  (Happily, he would muse), "Are we never going to die now?"

37:59  "Was our death in our previous life final? Are we never going to be punished?"

37:60  That, indeed, is a tremendous triumph

37:61  Those desirous (of success) should strive for just such an outcome

37:62  Isn´t a gracious feast (in paradise) better than the tree of ´zaqum´

37:63  We have deemed that tree to be a test for the evildoers

37:64  That tree springs forth from the very bottom of hell

37:65  Its buds (and crop) resemble the heads of Shaitans

37:66  The evil doers will have (nothing but) that to eat. They will stuff their stomachs with it

37:67  They will get (only) boiling water (to gulp down the ´zaqum´)

37:68  After (such a meal) they will come right back to the blazing fire of hell

37:69  (Their crime): they found their parents astray

37:70  Yet (without thinking) they rushed along in their (parents´) footsteps

37:71  (Even though they knew that) the earlier people (blundered and) had gone astray

37:72  We certainly raised messengers among them to warn them

37:73  So look at how those people forewarned met their end. The fate that they fared

37:74  But the sincere and the obedient servants of Allah (will be safe)

37:75  Earlier, Nooh called Us and We responded. We are simply the Best of those who respond

37:76  We rescued him and his household from an awful torture

37:77  We arranged it so that only his progeny survived (the flood)

37:78  And among the generations to follow, We let his name be honored and revered

37:79  Peace (and honor) is for ´Nooh´ in the entire universe

37:80  This is really how We reward the righteous ones

37:81  Indeed, he was one of Our (obedient and) believing servants

37:82  We drowned the others _ all the rest of them

37:83  Among those who followed him and his ways, was Ibraheem

37:84  He brought back to his Lord an untainted (and unblemished) heart, free from evil

37:85  He said to his father and his people, "What do you worship? (These idols)?"

37:86  "Do you prefer lies? Do you seek false gods instead of Allah?"

37:87  "Is this your notion of the Lord of the universe?"

37:88  Then he (rolled his eyes and) cast a sweeping glance at the stars

37:89  And said, "I really feel sick."

37:90  So they turned their backs and left him alone

37:91  Stealthily, he approached their gods and said, "Why do you not eat (the offerings)?"

37:92  "What is wrong? You don´t even talk?"

37:93  And then he attacked them, striking sharp blows with his right hand

37:94  The worshippers came rushing towards him

37:95  He asked, "You worship these idols? You have carved them yourself (they are your handiwork)!"

37:96  "While you _ as also your handiwork _ are the creation of Allah!"

37:97  They said, "Let us build a (furnace shaped) pyre for him, and let us toss him into the blazing fire (burning inside)."

37:98  Skillfully, they devised a plan against him, but We made their plans go awry and We humiliated them. We brought them down

37:99  (After his rescue) he said, "I am going towards my Lord! He will guide me."

37:100  "My Lord, grant me a righteous (son)."

37:101  So We gave him the glad tidings of a gentle lad

37:102  When that boy was old enough to share his father´s interests, Ibraheem said, "Oh my son, in my dream I saw myself slaughtering you (by His command)! So now, tell me what you think?" The son said, "Oh my father, do carry out your command. You will find me _ if Allah so wills _ patient and steadfast."

37:103  When both agreed to submit (their wills to Allah), the father flung his son down on his face

37:104  That is when We called out, "Oh Ibraheem!"

37:105  "You have made this dream come true! We reward the righteous ones in this manner."

37:106  "In fact, this was meant to be a clear (and specific) trial for you."

37:107  "Therefore, We offered in exchange (for his son) the great sacrifice (the rite of sacrifice on the day after Hajj)."

37:108  And among the generations to follow We let his name be honored and revered

37:109  Peace is upon Ibraheem

37:110  This is how We reward the righteous ones

37:111  Indeed, he was one of Our (obedient and) believing servants

37:112  We gave him the good news of the birth of Ishaq _ a righteous prophet

37:113  We blessed him and Ishaq. Now, some of their descendants are righteous, while others (disbelieved and so) are unjust to their own selves

37:114  And We certainly bestowed Our favor upon Musa, and (his brother) Haroon

37:115  And We rescued them, and their nation, from an awful torture

37:116  And We came to their aid. So they ended up being the victors

37:117  And We gave them the divine book (so they may know right from wrong)

37:118  And We guided them to the straight path

37:119  And among the generations to follow, We let their names be honored and revered

37:120  Peace is upon Musa and Haroon

37:121  This is really how We reward the righteous ones

37:122  Those two were among Our (obedient and) believing servants

37:123  And Ilyas, too, was one of the messengers

37:124  He said to his people, "Do you not fear Allah?"

37:125  "Do you pray to (the idol) ´Baal´ (a bull believed to be a god of fertility) while you quit (worshipping) the Best of the creators?"

37:126  "Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?"

37:127  But they (disbelieved and) called him a liar. Therefore, they will certainly be present there (on the Day of Judgment to face the punishment)

37:128  Except the sincere servants of Allah

37:129  And among the generations to follow, We let his name be honored and revered

37:130  Peace be upon Ilyas

37:131  This is really how We reward the righteous ones

37:132  Indeed, he was one of Our (obedient and) believing servants

37:133  ´Loot´ was also one of the messengers

37:134  We rescued him and all the members of his family

37:135  Except an old woman destined to stay behind

37:136  Then We destroyed the others _ all the rest of them

37:137  In fact, you do pass by their ruins during the day

37:138  And during the night! Don´t you have any sense

37:139  And surely, Yunus was also one of the messengers

37:140  He (abandoned his post and) fled aboard a crowded ship

37:141  (To save the ship) he agreed to take part in the casting of the lots _ and lost. (Hence, he was thrown overboard)

37:142  A whale swallowed him. He was (at fault and) blame worthy

37:143  He was one of those who (extol and) glorify Allah routinely

37:144  Else, he would have stayed in the belly of the fish till the day of resurrection

37:145  But We tossed him ashore in a barren area without any shade. He was stricken with illness and emaciated

37:146  We grew a plant _ a creeper _ over and around (to shade and protect) him

37:147  (Later), We sent him back to the community of a hundred thousand plus

37:148  They believed, so We had them enjoy life for a while

37:149  Ask their opinion. (Is it fair that) your Lord should have daughters while they prefer sons for themselves

37:150  Or did We create the angels as female beings? Were they present there, watching

37:151  Beware! What they utter is certainly self-conceived, and merely fiction

37:152  (Do they say) Allah has borne a child? Of course they are lying

37:153  Does He (really) prefer daughters over sons

37:154  What is wrong with you? How can you hold such views

37:155  Won´t you (reflect and) come back to your senses

37:156  Or do you have a clear authority (to hold such views)

37:157  So bring your scriptures (and quote your authority) if you are truthful

37:158  They conjure up kinship between Him and the jinn. But (all) jinn are well aware that the evildoers will have to appear before Him (for reckoning)

37:159  Allah is Exalted _ infinitely more Sublime than what they describe

37:160  The sincere servants of Allah are excepted _ (they associate no one with Allah)

37:161  "Of course you and those (false gods) you worship,"

37:162  "Can never tempt and entice away,"

37:163  "Anybody except the one who will burn in the fire of hell."

37:164  (The angels say) "Every single one of us has been assigned a place,"

37:165  "(Before Him). We, too stand in rows to pray."

37:166  "We, too, (extol His glory and) chant His praises!"

37:167  They surely used to claim (that)

37:168  "Like the earlier people, if we had received the (divine) advice,"

37:169  "Then of course we would have been the chosen people of Allah!"

37:170  (Divine advice they did receive), but they have rejected it already! So now, they will soon find out

37:171  We already gave Our word to Our servants _ the messengers

37:172  That they would certainly be helped

37:173  Our army would triumph, for sure

37:174  So leave them alone for a while

37:175  Just watch them. Soon they will see the torment themselves

37:176  Are they clamoring for Our torment to be hastened

37:177  For those forewarned, dreadful would be the dawn when the doom descends on their doorstep

37:178  So leave them alone for a while

37:179  Watch them! Soon they will see it

37:180  Glorified is your Lord, the Majestic Lord of honor and power. (He is Free) from the lies they attribute to Him

37:181  Peace is upon the messengers

37:182  And all praise is for Allah, the Lord of the universe